Wow – you all LOVE your pumpkin butter! I have to admit that you have me drooling over ALL amazing possibilities and ways to use pumpkin butter….MMMM! I LOVE the idea that was mentioned today of possibly including a Pumpkin Butter Recipe and/or a recipe using Pumpkin Butter with the winners prize packs. Of course, I’d have to post the recipes for you all too. Note to self to add this to the list! For now, you have ONE more day to enter The Great Pumpkin Giveaway– make sure you checked off all 4 ways you can enter to win!
This morning I was wide awake at 4 am ~ why?! I refused to be awake at this time so I stayed in bed until 5:15 and finally gave in. I decided that Power HIlls were in order for my HIIT today. These absolutely make your legs and bum burn way more than any run I’ve ever done.
minutes 1 & 2: 3.5 mph @ 1% grade
minute 3: 3.6 mph @ 6%
minute 4: 3.7 mph @ 7%
minute 5: 3.8 mph @ 8%
minute 6: 3.9 mph @ 9%
minute 7: 3.6 mph @ 6%
minute 8: 3.7 mph @ 7%
minute 9: 3.8 mph @ 8%
minute 10: 3.9 mph @ 9%
minute 11: 3.6 mph @ 6%
minute 12: 3.7 mph @ 7%
minute 13: 3.8 mph @ 8%
minute 14: 3.9 mph @ 9%
minute 15: 3.6 mph @ 6%
minute 16: 3.7 mph @ 7%
minute 17: 3.8 mph @ 8%
minute 18: 3.9 mph @ 9%
minute 19: 5.0 mph @ 10% (barely made it, but, I pushed through it thinking of Bob & Jillian saying don’t say you can’t do anything again – you can!!!)
minute 20-22: 3.0 mph @ 0%
Can I just say between yesterday’s rocking lower body workout (that included step lunges) and this power hill workout, my legs are SORE like week 1 – such a good thing!!! I can’t believe my Body For Life Challenge is half over – yahoo!
Breakfast included 1/2 c egg beaters cooked in the microwave with some hot sauce, sea salt and pepper.
1 slice Nature’s Pride 12 Grain Oat Bread with a smear of PUMPKIN BUTTER!
It was delicious and completely hit the spot for a complete carb/protein balanced 4 Weight Watcher Points!
I knew that Meal #2 was going to include The Hummus Guys Pita Bread and Spicy Hummus with Harissa. This WW pita bread rocks because it gets super soft when you toast it. I had 3 mini peppers and 1/2 c low-fat cottage cheese on the side.
At lunch today I had to run out to buy the Birthday cakes for the September birthday’s at work. I was super bummed that Whole Foods changed their policy and said that they now require 48 hours to order any big cakes 🙁 While I was there, I picked up a cup of their Garden Vegetable Soup to go with lunch. It looks tasty, but, it was, eh ok – it really needed salt and pepper.
I added 1/2 c Trader Joe’s 0% Greek yogurt with 1/2 c Low-Fat Cottage cheese and 1 Tbsp PUMPKIN BUTTER for some protein with my soup.
For dessert, I had 1/2 of this Honey Crisp apple before I got pulled into meetings :/
I had 32 oz of bubbles with lunch too….Fizzy water seriously makes my day!
I ended up finding 3 delicious looking cakes at Raley’s – a local market. They are Mile High Cakes ~ Blondie (white cake, custard, strawberries, white chocolate), Carrot Cake and Tiramisu! I am pretty sure everyone LOVED them because they disappeared fast.
Check out all the LAYERS each cake has!!! I did have 2 bites of each kind for “quality control” and all ~ MMMM….they were all good but I LOVED the carrot cake best ~ It tasted like PUMPKIN 😀
I managed to grab a little bit of a snack on my way to my next meeting. I had some Whole Wheat Annie’s bunnies (x’s 3) and a Low Fat Sargento Colby Jack Cheese.
The animals were out like crazy at our house. It seems our adopted kitty invited her friend over……she didn’t ask us! 🙂
Then, while I was cooking dinner The Husband called me outside to tell me we had a bunny in our back yard. Crazy ~ how do you find a bunny in the city?!
I have really been craving Turkey Meatloaf lately and I am pretty sure it has to do with the weather cooling. I picked up some Trader Joe’s Tomato Chutney yesterday and thought I’d replace the ketchup with it. The stats are pretty decent.
I didn’t have time or patience to make meatloaf, so I made Meatballs! The Husband said the shape doesn’t matter – square or circle, it all tastes the same. These only take 20 minutes to cook!
I topped them with Trader Joe’s Tomato Chutney after I cooked them. WOW – that is some seriously spicy hot chutney, but, it’s loaded with a great curry tomato flavor.
FAST TURKEY MEATBALLS
1 lb Lean Turkey Breast (99%)
1/3 c chopped red onion
1/3 c chopped green bell pepper
2 garlic cloves
1/4 oat bran
1/4 tsp ground thyme
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 egg white
Garlic Salt & freshly ground pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Saute the onion, bell pepper and garlic in nonstick spray over medium heat until soft, about 4-5 minutes.
Combine the above ingredients and shape into 8 meatballs. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until browned and cooked through.
**Note, if using sauce, add during the last 5 minutes of cooking or when served.
Makes 8 medium meatballs or 4 large meatballs/mini loaves
Top with your favorite sauce and enjoy!
I chopped up the leftover Grilled Carrots for side #1.
Plus some Trader Joe’s Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes.
Dinner was all about FAST comfort foods that were delish. I am so glad the week is 1/2 over….only 2 days left til the weekend – woohoo!
Tomorrow is the last day to enter my Great Pumpkin Giveaway! Good luck, good luck!
Nite all!
I need to get some of this Tomato Chutney. Right now, I am loving the Apple/Cran Chutney from TJ’s. It’s amazing when mixed with a little LC cheese and spread on a honey wheat English Muffin!
The meatball sound like the perfect way to statisfy a yummy craving.
Hope you are having a great week Danica!
That pumpkin butter mixed with the cottage cheese sounds yum I bet it would be good mixed in a little greek yogurt too. I want some now!!
I love that TJ’s chutney! I have used it to bake chicken breasts and also mixed with various veggies and served over israeli cous cous… yum 🙂 I just recently came up with a recipe using pumpkin butter that I am in love with — pumpkin butter & cream cheese cookies…. and it’s healthy too! Have a great one 🙂
http://cookinfanatic.wordpress.com/2009/09/27/perfected-the-pumpkin-cookie-recipe/
What an awesome and easy recipe! I love the fact that you use oat bran. Thanks! 🙂
Did you run for your HIIT or walk? I am already kind of bored with the standard flat running intervals so this looks like a good way to mix it up!
Those cakes look too good to be true. Total food porn!
Therese,
I have found doing power walking hills to be a good alternative to the running intervals. I walk the entire time and then slow jog the last minute on the highest grade. You’d be surprised at how it gets your heart rate up walking fast up hills. My legs always seem to burn more when doing this workout than when running. It’s tough!
Danica
Love that recipe! I will have to try it sometime soon.
I HOPE I win that contest, pumpkin butter sounds soooo good!!!
xo
K
Mmm soo much pumpkin butter. Great choices on the cake!
That look amazing. Where can I find the Italian seasoning?